Rotary engine.



No. 643.505. Patented Feb. l3, I900.

L. IGELHORST.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Sept, 22, 189B. Renewed July 25, 1899.) (No Model.) 5Sheets-Sheet l.

rlzy lagerzfgeziovsf No. 643,505. 7 1 Patented Feb. I3, I900. L.IGELHORST.

ROTARY ENGINE. (Application filed Sept. 22, 1898. Renewed July 25,1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Model.)

No. 643,505. Patented Feb. l3, I900. L. GELHORST.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Sept. 22, 189B. Renewed July 25, 1899.) {No Model.) 5SheetsShBet 3 M92660)? l'amZerZljelfiom I m: oams PETERS co, wucraumoWASHINGTON, u c

Patented Feb. l3, I900. L. IGELHORST.

ROTARY ENGINE.

5 Sheets$heet 4 (No Model.)

No. 643,505. Patented Feb. I3, 1900. L. IGELHORST.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Sept. 22, 1898. Renewed July 25, 1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model) ilirnn STAT-Es PATENT Fries.

LAMBERT IGELI'IORST, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,505, dated February13, 1900. Application filed September 22, 1898. Renewed July 25, 1899-Serial No. 725,094. (No model.)

To (all whom it nuzy concern.-

Be it known that I, LAMBERT IGELHORST, brother, St. Francis College, acitizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adamsand State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inRotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class or type of rotary engines whereinthe peripheral portion of a rotary piston is constructed with pockets orrecesses in which a working fluid is directed by nozzles for swiftlyrevolving the piston, and thereby imparting rotary I110- tion to theengine-shaft.

The chief objects of the present invention are to promote the efficiencyof rotary engines of the character referred to, to increase their powerwithout a proportionate increase in the quantity of working fluid usedin driving the rotary piston, to improve the construction of theperipheral portions of the rotary piston, and to secure greaterefficiency and power in the working of the engine.

To accomplish these objects, my invention involves the features ofconstruction, the principles of operation, and mode of operationhereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings,- in which- Figure 1 is a vertical centralsectional view taken on the line 1 1, Fig. 2, showing an engineembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, the piston and its surrounding ring being shown partly inelevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on a line at rightangles to the view in Fig. 4, showing a modified form of engine. Fig. 4is a sectional side elevation of the parts represented in Fig. 3. Fig. 5is an enlarged detail sectional view of a part of the engine representedin Figs. 1 and 2 to more clearly show the finger-like projections andthe nozzles for delivering the working fluid. Fig. 6 is a sectional viewtaken at right angles to the view in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a de tail view ofthe nozzle represented in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6. Fig. 8 is a sectionalplan view showing the nozzles at opposite sides of the rotary piston, asin Figs. 3 and 4, whereinthe piston is provided with finger-likeprojections at opposite sides near itsperiphery. Fig. 9

blocks 9.

is a detail sectional view of a rotary piston having the finger-likeprojections at one side only, and Fig. 10 is a detail sectional Viewshowing a rotary piston with finger-like projections at opposite sideswhich extend in reverse directions for the purpose of rotatingthispiston in either direction.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use myinventiomlwill nowdescribe the same in detail, referring first to Figs. 1, 2, 5,6, and 7, wherein the numeral 1 indicates a circular casing, in which iscentrally mounted the rotary piston 2. The casing is formed with anannular passage 3, communicating at the top of the casing with a lateralinlet 4, having screw threads 5, by which to connect it with a pipe forsupplying the working fluid, such as steam or air or gas under pressure.The piston is rigidly mounted on a horizontal shaft 6, which extendsthrough enlarged ori= fices in the opposite side walls of the circularcasing. The extremities of the shaft 6 are connected by universalcouplings 7 with the shaft, as at 8, mounted in any suitableconstruction of bearings located within pillar- The shaft 6 is thussupported, but slight variations in its central position are permittedthrough the medium of the universal couplings. The exterior faces of theside walls of the annular casing are constructed with ground faces, asat 10, around the central openings, through which the shaft 6 passes. Astuffing-box bears against each of the ground faces 10 and issusceptible of rotating against the same. The stuffingboxes are eachcomposed of a cup-shaped case 12, containing a sleeve 13, which issecured fixedly to the shaft 6 by means of a screw 14, which has itsinner end seated in a recess in the shaft. The sleeves 13 are eachsurrounded by a spiral or other suitable shaped spring 15, which at oneend bears against the inner end of the cup-shaped casing 12 and at itsouter end bears against the flanged head of the sleeve, whereby eachcup-shaped case 12 is firmly but yieldingly pressed against one of theground faces 10. The opposite side walls of the annular casing are alsoconstructed with oil-delivery passages 16, communicating at their upperends with oil-cups 17 and at their lower ends with the ground faces 10and the inner surfaces of the cup-shaped case 12,

whereby lubricant is delivered to the ground faces to insure a smoothand easy rotary motion of the cup-shaped eases upon the ground faces. Atpoints below the cup-shaped cases the opposite side walls of the annularcasing are also formed with oil-drip channels or recesses 18, connectedbypipes or tubes 19 with oil or lubricant receptacles 20 in such mannerthat oil or lubricant dripping from the contacting surfaces of thecup-shaped cases and the sides of the annular casing will fall into thechannels or recesses 18 and thence pass to the receptacles 20. By thismeans the surplus oil is saved and can be reused. The cupshaped cases12, pressed against the ground faces 10, serve to prevent the escape ofthe exhausting working fluid through the openings in the sides of theannular casing through which the shaft 6 passes, such openings beingsomewhat enlarged relatively to the shaft, so that it is possible forthe latter to slightly move either vertically or horizontally in a planeat right angles to the shaft.

The interior of the annular casing is provided with a ring 21,constructed on its inner circle with spaced-apart fingers 22 to createor form rectangularsteam or air or gas pockets 23. The fingers are eachconstructed with a bevel outer extremity, as at 24, for the purposehereinafter explained. The ring 21 has applied to its opposite sides theside plates or flanges 25, which have the inner sides of their outerportions beveled inwardly, as at 26. These inwardly-beveled surfaces 20close the ends of the rectangular steam, air, or gas pockets 23, as willbe best understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 6. The side plates orflanges 25 are secured to opposite sides of the ring 21 through themedium of rivets or bolts, as at 27, Fig. 2. The periphery of the piston2 is also constructed with spaced-apart fingers 28, having bevels andarranged to create or form rectangular steam, air, or gas pockets 29.The sides of the piston 2 at its peripheral portion are provided withside plates or flanges 31, which have the inner surfaces of their outerportions inwardly-beveled, as at 32. These inwardly beveled surfaces 32close the ends of the pockets 29, all precisely the same as describedwith reference to the pockets of the ring 21. The side plates or flanges31 are attached by means of rivets or bolts 31 like the plates orflanges 25 of the ring.

The working fluid, such as steam or air or gas under pressure, issupplied to the inlet 4 and passes therefrom into the annular passage 3,from which the working fluid flows through nozzles 33, possessing apeculiar internal construction, form, or shape, which I will nowexplain, referring more particularly to Fig. 6. There are a plurality ofnozzles disposed in a circle around the piston, and each nozzle isscrewed into position through the ring 21. The nozzles are each formedwith a circular bore, as at 34, at the inner end of which each nozzle isuniformly curved at the two points 35 and 36. The delivery-slot 37 ofthe nozzle is substantially rectangular, so that it will deliver asomewhat broad thin sheet of Working fluid, and it is uniformly taperedor widens out from the curved part 36 to the delivery end 38 of thenozzle. This uniformly-tapered broad flat slot 37 causes the steam toflow in a straight direction out of the nozzle and to gradually widenout from the uniformly-curved parts 36 to the deliverymouth 38, therebyoifering far less resistance to the outflow of steam than would be thecase were the sides or walls of the slot made parallel or were thedelivery-bore of the nozzle of circular form throughout. The peculiarrounded surfaces 35 and 36 of each nozzle are designed for the specialpurpose of enabling the steam to easily and freely flow into the smallor contracted end of the delivery-slot 37. This easy and free movementof the working fluid over the uniformlycurved surfaces 35 and 36 issecured without material resistance on the part of the walls of thenozzle, and experiments made by me demonstrate that by this form ofnozzle greatly-increased power is obtained, equal to thirty-seven and ahalf per cent. The delivery-mouth 38 of each nozzle lies lengthwiserelatively to the periphery of the piston, and consequently eachdelivery-nozzle delivers .working fluid simultaneously to acomparatively large number of the fingers and the pockets in theperipheryof the piston. VVorking fluid directed under great Velocity bythe nozzles into the pockets 29 of the piston turns the latter, and thefluid rebounds into the pockets 23 of the ring 21 and thence againrebounds into the pockets 29 of the piston until the power of theworking fluid is completely exhausted. It then passes out at the sidesinto the enlarged exhaust chamber and through the exhaust-passages 39,Fig. 1.

It would be practicable to use a condenser on this engine, by means ofwhich its power would be materially increased. The steam, if steam isused in this engine, is not mixed with oil, as is usually the case, andtherefore the condensed water can be pumped back direct into the boiler,which is an advantage due to the fact that if only water from thecondensed steam is used the boiler will remain free from scale and thelike.

In my engine a heavy fly-wheel is unnecessary, and where the same is tobe used for driving a dynamo all belting can be dispensed with.

Referring back to the nozzles which deliver the working fluid to thepockets in the periphery of the piston, I have found that by theirpeculiar construction I obtain twice the pressure on the periphery ofthe piston than can be obtained with nozzles having circular or roundholes of the same area throughout. A nozzle having a one-quarter inchround hole gives a pressure of four pounds on the periphery of thepiston with eighty pounds of boiler-pressure per square inch, while noz-IIO zles constructed in accordance with my invention and as hereinbeforeexplained and having the same area as a one-quarter inch round-holenozzle will give a pressure of eight and three-quarter pounds on theperiphery of the piston with the same boiler-pressure.

The delivery-mouths 38 of the piston are curved, as best seen in Figs. 5and 7, to follow generally the curved outline of the periphery of thepiston, as will be obvious without further explanation.

The beveled extremities or surfaces 24 of the fingers 22 and the beveledsurfaces 30 of the fingers 28 are particularly designed to direct theworking fluid in an easy and a better manner than heretofore into thepockets of the ring 21 and of the piston.

The side plates or flanges 25 at opposite sides of the ring 21 and theside plates or flanges 31 at opposite sides of the peripheral portion ofthe piston, in connection with the inwardlybeveled surfaces 26 and 32,are particularly designed to confine the working fluid more closely inthe pockets of the ring and the piston, and since the inwardly-beveledsurfaces 26 and 32 close the opposite ends of the pockets in the ringand the piston the working fluid cannot easily escape laterally, andconsequently it follows that increased power is given to the engine.

As best seen in Fig. 2, the annular casing is provided with a pluralityof valve-stems 40, passing through striding-boxes 41, screwed into theannular casing. The inner ends of the valve-stems 40 are provided withsuitable valves 42, lying directly opposite and in correct relation tothe outer receiving extremities of the nozzles 33, all in such mannerthat a nozzle, one or more, may be closed by a valve or valves, so thatthe working fluid in the annular passage 3 cannot enter such closednozzle or nozzles for the purpose of adapting the engine to variationsof load. In Fig. 2 I have represented four valve-stems 40, having Valves42 at their inner ends to cut off four of the nozzles. Other valves maybe added by removing the screw-plugs 43 and applying the valves andstuffing-boxes, as will be obvious, or one of the valves may be removedand a screw-plug, like screw-plu g 43, inserted into the screw-threadedhole in which the stuffing-box of the valve is screwed.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 8 Irepresent an engine embodying modifications of myinvention. In the modified construction the ring 21, with its fingersand pockets, as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, isdispensed with, and the piston 2 is constructed at opposite sides, nearits periphery, with fingers 28 and pockets 2%. (Best seen in Fig. 8.)The outer extremities of the fingers are beveled, as at 38. The sides ofthe piston are also provided with side plates, as at 31 having upper andlower inwardly-beveled surfaces 32, which close the upper and lower endsof the pockets 29 in a manner substantially the same as the ends of thepockets 29 are closed in the piston represented in Figs. 1 and 2. Theannular casing 1 is constructed with two opposite parallel annularpassages 3, to which the working fluid is supplied through inlets 4,Fig. 3. The nozzles 33 are arranged in two sets, one set at each side ofthe piston. The sets of nozzles lead, respectively, from the annularpassages 3 from which they receive the working fluid and direct it intothe pockets 29 at opposite sides of the piston. The fingers 28, pockets29*, beveled extremities 30 of the fingers, and the nozzles 33 are allconstructed the same as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.1, 2, 5, 6, and 7, for which reason a more detailed explanation at thispoint is considered unnecessary. Reference-numerals in Fig. 3,corresponding with like reference-numerals in Figs. 1 and 2, indicatecorresponding or like parts, and for this reason I do not consider itessential to further explain the same.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 8 the piston is provided with pockets at oppositesides near its periphery; but it may be provided with pockets at oneside only, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 9. In the enginerepresented by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 the piston is designed to run in onedirection only; but by arranging the pockets in reverse directions atopposite sides of the piston, near its periphery, as will be clear byreference to Fig. 10, and properly arranging the nozzles, as shown inthis figure, it is possible to run the piston in either direction bysupplying the working fluid through the nozzles at either side of thepiston. If the working fluid be supplied through the nozzles at oneside, the piston will be rotated in one direction, while by supplyingthe working fluid through the nozzles at the opposite side the pistonwill be caused to rotate in the reverse direction, as will be obvious.

I may apply valves and stems similar to the valves 42 and stems 40 shownin Fig. 2 relatively to the outer ends of the nozzles 33, Figs. 3 and 4,in much the same manner and for the same purpose as hereinbefore described with particular reference to Fig. 2.

The piston in my improved engine is intended to be constructed of a finegrade of steel, so that it will successfully withstand all strainincident to centrifugal force.

The piston-shaft is made flexible through the medium of the universalcouplings, so that if the piston is not exactly balanced, which mightcause it to vi brate some, the vibration will not be transmitted to thebearings, as the universal couplings will take up the vibrations andprevent them from being transmitted to the bearings and also prevent tosome extent heat from being transmitted to the bearings.

The distinctive, important, and salient elements or features of myinvention are the bevels on the backs of the outer extremities of thespaced-apart fingers which create or form the steam, air, or gas pocketsfor easily and smoothly directing the working fluid-- such as steam,air, or gas-into the pockets; the side plates or flanges having theinward bevels on the inner sides to close the ends of the pockets andthereby temporarily confine the working fluid, so that it cannot easilyescape from the pockets, but must effect its full working power; thenozzles having the uniformly-curved internal surfaces leading to adelivery-slot which tapers uniformly from the said curved internalsurfaces to its deliverymouththat is to say,which widens gradually fromits inner to its outer end; the construction of the sides of thepiston-casing with seats against which the spring-pressed cup-shapedcases of the stufling-boxes bear and on which they turn or rotate toprevent the escaping of the working fluid at the enlarged openingsthrough which the piston-shaft passes; the construction of thestuffing-boxes of the three parts-to wit, the sleeves secured to thepiston-shaft, the cup-shaped cases, and the springs surrounding thesleeves and acting to firmly but yieldingly press the cases against theground seats on the piston-casing, and the oil-cups, oil delivery andescape channels or recesses, and oil-receptacles at opposite sides ofthe piston-casing. These distinctive elements or features materiallypromote the efficiency of the engine, increase its capacity and power,and generally render this class or type of rotary engines moreefficient, effective, useful, and desirable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. Thecombination, in a rotary engine, of a rotary piston constructed withperipheral fingers each having one side straight and the other beveled,and rectangular pockets between said fingers, and nozzles for deliveringthe working fluid to said fingers and pockets, each nozzle having adelivery-slot uniformly widening from its inner end to its outer end ordelivery-mouth, and the beveled portions of said fingers extending at anangle to the adjacent extremities of said nozzles so that the sharpenedportions only of the ends of said fingers are nearest to said nozzles,substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, in a rotary engine, of a rotary piston constructedwith the peripheral fingers each having one side straight and the otherbeveled, and rectangular pockets between said fingers, and nozzles fordelivering the working fluid to said fingers and pockets, each nozzlehaving the uniformly-curved internal surfaces 35 and 36, and adelivery-slot 37 uniformly widening from its inner end to its outer endor delivery-mouth, and the beveled portions of said fingers extending atan angle to the adjacent extremities of said nozzles so that thesharpened portions only of the ends of said fingers are nearest to saidnozzles, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination, in a rotary engine, of a rotary piston havingpockets therein, side plates secured to said piston and having beveledportions which close the ends of said pockets and confine the workingfluid, and nozzles for delivering working fluid to said pockets,substantially as and forthe purpose described.

4. The combination, in a rotary engine, of the rotary piston constructedwith the peripheral fingers having beveled extremities, and rectangularpockets between said fingers, the side plates or flanges secured toopposite sides of the peripheral portion of the piston and having theinnersurfaces of their outer circular portions inwardly beveled andclosing the ends of the pockets in the piston, and the nozzles fordelivering the Working fluid to said fingers and pockets, each nozzlehaving a delivery-slot which uniformly widens from its inner end to itsouter end or deliverymouth, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

5. The combination, in a rotary engine, of the rotary piston constructedwith the peripheral fingers having beveled extremities, and rectangularpockets between said fingers, the side plates or flanges secured toopposite sides of the said piston and constructed with inwardly-beveledportions which close the ends of the pockets in the piston and serve toconfine the working fluid, and the nozzles for delivering the workingfluid to said fingers and pockets, each nozzle having a delivery-slotuniformly widened from its inner end to its outer end or delivery-mouth,substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. The combination, in a rotary engine, of the rotary piston constructedwith the peripheral fingers having beveled extremities, andrectangularpockets between said fingers, the side plates or flangessecured to opposite sides of the piston and constructed with theinwardly -beveled surfaces which close the opposite ends of the pocketsin the piston and serve to confine the working fluid as set forth, andnozzles for delivering the working fluid to said fingers and pockets,between the beveled portions of the said plates or flanges,substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. The combination, in a rotary engine, of a rotary piston constructedwith the peripheral fingers each having one side straight and the otherbeveled and pockets between said fingers, and nozzles for delivering theworking fluid to the beveled portions of the fingers and into saidpockets,the beveled portions of said fingers extending at an angle tothe adjacent extremities of said nozzles so that the sharpened portionsonly of the ends of said fingers are nearest to said nozzles,substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. In a rotary engine, a rotary piston having pockets therein, asurrounding ring or casing also having pockets therein adjoining thepockets in said piston, nozzles extending through said ring fordelivering working fluid to said pockets, and side plates or flangessecured to said ring, provided with beveled portions, which close theends ofthe pockets in said ring and confine the working fluid,substantially as described.

9. The combination in a rotary engine, of a casing having at itsopposite sides ground seats and constructed with an annular passage forthe Working fluid, a rotary piston in the casing, a shaft extendingthrough the sides of the casing and on which the piston is mounted,nozzles leading from the annular passage for directing the working fluidonto the piston, cup-shaped cases bearing against the said ground seats,sleeves arranged in said cases and secured to the piston-shaft, andsprings which press the cup-shaped cases against the ground seats,substantially as described.

10. The combination, in a rotary engine, of a casing having at itsopposite sides ground seats and constructed with an annular passage forthe working fluid, a rotary piston in the casing, a shaft extendingthrough the sides of the casing and on which the piston is mounted,nozzles leading from the annular passage for directing the working fluidonto the piston, cup-shaped cases bearing against the said ground seats,sleeves arranged in said cases and secured to the piston-shaft, andsprings which press the cup-shaped cases against the ground seats, saidcasing having its side walls constructed with oil delivery and escapepassages, oil-cups connected with the oil-delivery passages, andoil-receptacles connected with the oil-escape passages, substantially asdescribed.

11. The combination, in a rotary engine, of a casing having its oppositesides constructed with the ground seats and orifices, a rotarypiston-shaft passing through said orifices and carrying a piston,cup-shaped cases bearing against said ground seats and adapted to turnthereupon, sleeves arranged in said cases and secured to the shaft toturn therewith, and springs housed in the cases and acting to press thesame against the ground seats to prevent the escape of working fluid atthese points, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LAMBERT IGELHORS'F.

Witnesses:

NICHOLAS LEONARD, RUDOLPH TEUK.

